aka: costume designer, wardrobe designer, costume stylist (commercials)
A costume designer is responsible for what characters wear on screen. Their work helps define character, time period, tone, and story, while also making sure costumes are practical for filming.
They work closely with the director and production designer to ensure clothing supports the world of the film.
What Does a Costume Designer Do?
A costume designer designs, sources, and oversees all costumes used in a production. This includes everything from everyday clothing to hero costumes, uniforms, and specialty wardrobe.
| Stage | Typical responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Pre-production | Break down the script, research time period and characters, create costume concepts, build mood boards, establish budgets, and plan fittings. |
| Production | Oversee fittings and alterations, manage costume continuity, supervise wardrobe assistants, respond to script or blocking changes, and ensure costumes are camera-ready each day. After filming, they supervise the return, storage, or disposal of costumes and complete wardrobe wrap paperwork if required. |
| Post-production | N/A |
Who Does the Costume Designer Work With?
- Director – ensures costumes support character and storytelling.
- Production Designer – aligns costumes with sets, colour palette, and visual style.
- Actors – collaborates on fit, comfort, and character choices.
- Wardrobe team – supervises assistants, buyers, and costume makers.
- Script Supervisor – maintains costume continuity across scenes.
How the Role Changes on Smaller Productions
On smaller or independent productions, costume designers often take on hands-on tasks normally split across a larger team. They may source, alter, track, and maintain all costumes themselves while working with a very small wardrobe crew or none at all. This usually means tighter budgets, more creative problem-solving, and greater responsibility for continuity.
Costume Designer vs Wardrobe Supervisor
The costume designer creates the overall look and concept for the characters, making decisions about style, colour, and character identity. The wardrobe supervisor is responsible for managing costumes during filming, including continuity, fittings, maintenance, and daily logistics on set.